Like many University of Missouri fans, Griff Goodrich had
closely followed the rumors about whether the Tigers would leave
the Big 12 Conference and where they might end up.

But for Goodrich, the developing story hit closer to home. A
senior pitcher at Kirkwood, had committed to continue his baseball
career at Missouri before the move to the Southeastern Conference
was announced.

"I just didn't know if we were staying put," Goodrich said
Tuesday. "At first it was kind of nerve-wracking, I guess you could
say, just because you didn't know where you were playing next year.
But it turned out to be a great opportunity to head down to the
SEC, and I'm just thankful for that."

Goodrich had asked baseball coaches every few weeks about a
possible move to the SEC but said he wasn't able to gain any more
information than was out there. So he received the news like
everyone else.

"When I got the news Sunday morning, I woke up and right away it
was pure excitement," he said. "It was awesome. The Big 12 is a
great, prestigious conference, but to move down to the SEC for
baseball, that's baseball country down there. You've got the top
teams fighting for a trip to Omaha every year out of that
conference. It's great competition."

Goodrich also is looking forward to the move as a sports
fan.

"Being an athlete, it will be great to play against great
competition," he said. "But also being a student, to go watch those
games. To come see Kentucky or Florida come to Mizzou for
basketball, those are the top teams in the nation. Come see Alabama
(football) take a visit to Columbia. That would be awesome to see.
You're seeing the top teams in the country. It will be a great
experience to watch and be a part of as well."

Several athletes throughout the area have made verbal
commitments to continue their athletic careers in Columbia next
year. Some, like Goodrich, are able to make those decisions
official with the signing of their letter of intents today.

High school seniors in all sports other than football, soccer,
track and field, cross country, field hockey and water polo can
sign binding letters of intent in the early period which runs today
through next Wednesday.

Goodrich isn't alone in his excitement about the move to the
SEC.

Marquette senior center Ryan Rosburg, who committed to play
basketball at Mizzou after also considering Tennessee, is looking
forward to being a part of a program that will make that
transition.

"I looked at Tennessee for so long, so I know a lot about the
SEC," Rosburg said. "I really like the tradition in it with schools
like Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee -- all good tradition programs.
They have a big fan base, too, so I think that it will be really
cool. Also to be the first Missouri team to be in the SEC. I think
that will be cool, too, to go to some of those places."

MICDS senior linebacker Michael Scherer was recruited by schools
from coast to coast in conferences like the SEC, Big 12, Big Ten
and Pac-12 before making a verbal commitment to Missouri in
June.

"I've talk to my whole family about this, and to be honest, for
me, it is almost like the best of both worlds because I'm playing
for my home state and I'm playing in what's arguably the best
conference in college football," Scherer said. "It's kind of like
you can't have it any better, almost."

Scherer is one of four area football players who have pledged to
the Tigers, along with Parkway North linebacker Donavin Newsom,
Ritenour defensive tackle Edmond Ray and Affton product Markus
Golden, who is now at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College.

They are part of a larger group of area high school seniors,
including Goodrich and Rosburg, St. Joseph's basketball players
Maddie and Morgan Stock and others, who will head to Columbia in
2012 and to help the Tigers tackle the new challenges of joining
the Southeastern Conference.

"It will get us better, playing against the best," Goodrich
said. "It will just be one great experience for every
student-athlete at Mizzou to be a part of."

SLUH'S KLUG COMMITS TO HARVARD

St. Louis University High senior shortstop Mitch Klug committed
to Harvard on Tuesday.

"I think when I went up there in September I really had a good
time and enjoyed everything about it," he said. "I came back to St.
Louis, and after a couple days I felt like that was the place at
the time."

Klug, 17, also considered St. Louis University, George
Washington and others. He made several official and unofficial
visits to help narrow down his decision.

Klug batted .364 as a junior, with five doubles, five triples,
20 RBIs, 37 runs, 25 stolen bases and a .500 on-base percentage. He
also went 6-0 with a 2.33 earned-run average in 33 innings.

As a sophomore, Klug hit .338 with two doubles, three triples,
two home runs, 29 RBIs, 22 runs, 23 stolen bases and a .460
OBP.

McCLUER NORTH LINEMAN JONES HAS INTEREST

Keith Jones had been one of the top offensive and defensive
linemen in the Suburban North Conference. College programs have
taken notice.

Jones (6-2, 271) has a team-high 13 sacks for McCluer North, as
well as 46 tackles one fumble recovery and one interception --
which he returned 72 yards for a touchdown in a 37-14 win against
Lafayette on Saturday. He's also one of the driving forces for the
running game with his work on the offensive line.

Jones said he has a scholarship offer from Grambling, but also
interest from others. He said he will take a visit to Kansas this
winter and has also received interest from Tennessee-Martin and
Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Copyright 2015 stltoday.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.